The fifth installment of the College Football Playoff rankings will be released tonight (7 p.m. ET, ESPN). A shakeup is necessary this time.

With then-No. 2 Ohio State surviving then-No. 3 Michigan in overtime, curious officiating or not, the Buckeyes have stated their case as one of the best teams in America. The Wolverines have likely been eliminated.

The problem is that OSU won’t even participate in the Big Ten Championship Game on Saturday in Indianapolis. Due to Penn State having an identical 8-1 record in conference play and defeating Ohio State in Happy Valley, the Nittany Lions will represent the East. They’ll face West champ Wisconsin at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Because college football has an imperfect system to determine its national champion, the Buckeyes probably benefit from not playing in its league title game — staying home with an 11-1 overall record — since that’s one less chance to lose.

Here’s how the fifth CFP rankings should look. You need binoculars right now to see the No. 1 team from positions 2, 3 and 4.

1. alabama

The Crimson Tide took care of Auburn in the Iron Bowl 30-12, putting together another dominant game on the defensive side of the ball.

At one point this season, the Tigers were running roughshod over every opponent in sight. However, against ‘Bama, Auburn only managed to produce 66 yards on the ground. Leading rusher Kamryn Pettway was held to 17 yards on 12 carries.

As for the offense, quarterback Jalen Hurts made some freshman mistakes — there haven’t been a lot of them this season — and was intercepted twice, plus the Tide put the ball on the ground several times thanks to sloppy exchanges. Still, they racked up 501 total yards on a defense that has a ton of talent at all three levels.

Coach Nick Saban and Co. are No. 1 unanimously in both the AP and Coaches polls, plus the separation from Nos. 2-25 is growing wider by the week. They’re currently 24-point favorites over Florida in the SEC Championship Game.

Truth be told, Alabama could lose Saturday and still be a part of the Final Four. The Crimson Tide are in, no questions asked.

2. Ohio State

Trailing 17-7 in the third quarter, the Buckeyes managed to force overtime and eventually survived Michigan 30-27.

OSU got a couple of lucky breaks and a handful of fortuitous calls. Outspoken — OK, half-crazy — Wolverines coach Jim Harbaugh all but blamed his team’s loss on the officiating, but he can afford the $10,000 fine based on what he makes.

Apr 16, 2016; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Scarlet mascot Brutus performs during the Ohio State Spring Game at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

Even the most sycophantic of SEC fans has to tip his cap to the Big Ten this season, which features half of the Top 8 in both major polls with the regular season now complete. Even if Ohio State and Michigan are the class of the conference in terms of pure talent, Penn State and Wisconsin will actually play in the title game.

To reiterate, the Buckeyes are a good bet to make the Final Four despite the fact that they aren’t in the Final Two of their own league. OSU beat the Badgers in Madison, although the Nittany Lions pulled the upset in State College.

If PSU wins Saturday in Indy, then it really gets interesting. Ohio State won’t rest easy between now and Selection Sunday, that’s for sure.

3. clemson

Rivalry schmivalry. The Tigers beat up on their Palmetto State partner, South Carolina, 56-7 in the regular-season finale.

While Clemson has toyed around with inferior competition here and there in 2016, the Gamecocks were down 21-0 after one, 35-0 after two and finally sent back to Columbia a 56-7 loser. The talent disparity was seismic.

It hasn’t been the best of seasons for Tigers quarterback Deshaun Watson, who was supposedly a no-brainer for the No. 1-overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. Nowadays, decision makers at the next level aren’t even sure he’s a first-rounder. He threw 13 interceptions in 15 games last year. This year, he has 14 INTs already in 12 outings.

Regardless, the Tigers are the cream of the crop in the ACC — an underappreciated conference just about every season — and will face Virginia Tech on Saturday in Orlando. Win that one, and they’re in the playoff.

Don’t count out the Hokies, though. First-year coach Justin Fuente has done a magnificent job and will have his team ready.

4. washington

The obvious beneficiaries of Michigan falling out of the Top 4, the Huskies have rebounded after a loss to USC three Saturdays ago.

U-Dub blew out Washington State 45-17 — in Pullman, no less — in the most eagerly anticipated Apple Cup in years. Cougars quarterback Luke Falk was intercepted three times and only averaged 5.4 yards per pass attempt.

On the other side of the coin, Washington signal caller Jake Browning may have gotten back into the Heisman Trophy conversation with a 21-of-29 performance through the air that produced 292 yards and 3 touchdowns without a turnover. His TD-to-INT ratio of 40-to-7 this season is arguably the most impressive in the land.

Nov 25, 2016; Pullman, WA, USA; Washington Huskies mascot Harry the Husky looks on against the Washington State Cougars during the second half at Martin Stadium. The Huskies won 45-17. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports

Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports

In order to justify the preseason hype and win the Pac-12, the Huskies will have to take care of Colorado in the conference championship game. The Buffaloes are perhaps the most pleasant surprise of 2016.

The committee has made it known repeatedly that winning a league means something in its eyes. By that rationale, even Colorado has life.

NEXT FOUR

5. Wisconsin

The Badgers continue to have the best two-loss résumé in the country. Winning the Big Ten would give them quite an argument, even over a team they lost to, Ohio State.

6. Penn State

While the Nittany Lions don’t appear to be quite as good as Wisconsin on paper, the Big Ten champ deserves an invite. And unlike the Badgers, PSU actually defeated the Buckeyes.

7. Oklahoma

Even if the Sooners win at Bedlam on Saturday, there’s a good chance that the Big 12 is being left on the cutting-room floor by the committee for the second time in three years.

8. Oklahoma State

The Cowboys might have a better case than the Sooners if they walk out of Bedlam a winner. Everyone knows that OSU’s loss in Week 2 to Central Michigan was bogus.

John Crist is the senior writer for Saturday Down South, a member of the FWAA and a voter for the Heisman Trophy. Send him an e-mail, like him on Facebook or follow him on Twitter.